Selene stood at the center of a large clearing. Her expression remained composed, studying Oswald thoughtfully as she waited for him to adjust to his new gear.

  Across from her, Oswald shifted his stance awkwardly, feeling the weight of the new cloak settle comfortably upon his shoulders. His fingers curled hesitantly around the hilt of the longsword Selene had given him, its unfamiliar grip sleek beneath his fingertips.

  Taking a steady breath, he swung the weapon through the air. The sword was balanced perfectly, yet Oswald couldn't help feeling somewhat clumsy wielding a blade longer and heavier than what he'd been accustomed to for most of his life.

  "Ain't gonna lie, Selene, I'm not really used to a longsword like this. Been usin' my shortsword this whole time, guess my body's just got the feel for somethin' shorter."

  "You'll get used to the longsword in time, besides, there's no need to worry about that just yet. We won't be needing weapons for the next stage of your training." Selene said.

  Oswald nodded silently, returning the blade carefully to its sheath at his hip. "Alright, so if we ain't trainin' with swords yet, what exactly are we gonna be doin'?"

  "If you truly wish to become an adventurer and eventually compete in the Tournament of Champions, you must first learn to harness your mana core properly."

  Oswald's brow knitted instantly into a deep frown. "Uh, I've actually tried channelin' my mana core a couple of times before. Ain't never worked out, no matter how hard I tried."

  Selene placed a hand on Oswald's shoulder. "Things are different now. In the past, your Animus Spirit was in conflict with your mana core. That discord made channeling your mana nearly impossible. But since you've forged your contract, your Animus will no longer hold you back. Trust me when I say you’re capable of far more than you've ever imagined."

  "Guess that makes sense," he finally responded, offering her a faint but hopeful smile. "Should I just close my eyes and focus, then? Like I've tried before?"

  "That's exactly right, all you need to do now is trust yourself. The rest will follow."

  With a slight nod, Oswald exhaled slowly, then moved to lean against a tree. C'mon, you got this, he reassured himself, taking a deep breath and shutting his eyes firmly.

  Darkness flooded Oswald's vision. He steadied himself, reaching inward with practiced focus, yet this time clarity greeted him instantly, sharp and vivid, as if some unseen barrier had shattered at last.

  But doubt lingered stubbornly, whispering at the fringes of his mind, familiar and taunting. What if nothin’s changed? What if I'm just kiddin' myself again?

  Clenching his jaw tightly, Oswald shoved the nagging uncertainty aside, searching deep within his soul. Almost immediately, a strange heat stirred deep within his chest, answering his call.

  He sank into it eagerly, diving deeper and deeper into himself, until suddenly something, he saw it. A radiant force blazing fiercely in the very core of his being, brilliant like a star.

  Shock and awe surged through him, nearly shattering his fragile concentration. Yet Oswald held steady, irresistibly drawn toward that dazzling, burning power within.

  Crimson light erupted into the darkness, fierce and overwhelming, illuminating the depths of his consciousness. For the first time ever, Oswald saw clearly the pulsing source of his mana core, radiant and powerful, glowing like molten flame. It pulsed rhythmically, perfectly synchronized with the beating of his heart. Is this really mine? It's... incredible.

  The mana core burned brighter still, flaring joyfully in response to his emotions. Warmth surged through his veins, flooding every muscle, filling him with newfound strength. It was raw and intense, but unmistakably, undeniably his.

  [You have gained a new Tier 1 skill: Mana Control]

  Oswald slowly opened his eyes, blinking as the vivid colors of the forest gently rushed back into focus. Breathless and exhilarated, a triumphant grin broke uncontrollably across his face. "I did it, I actually felt my mana core. It's strong… way stronger than I ever dreamed it'd be."

  "Of course, it is yours, after all."

  "But… how come you sound like you're sure I was gonna have a powerful mana core?"

  "Well, it's only natural. Anyone who hosts an Animus Spirit possesses a potent mana core by default.

  "But how's that make sense?"

  "Did you happen to receive a notification after you successfully channeled your mana core?"

  He paused, blinking as he recalled the message he'd seen flashing vividly in his vision only moments ago. "Yeah, actually, I did."

  Selene folded her arms confidently across her chest. "Then I'd wager good money your Animus Spirit informed you that you could only access skills directly related to the Animus or itself, correct?"

  "Pretty much."

  "Then we can conclude that if your skills must align with your Animus, that can only mean your mana core and Animus are inherently connected. The only question is how."

  Oswald blew out a slow breath, eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "Honestly, I ain't got the slightest idea how any of that works."

  "Sit down," Selene instructed gently. "You'll want to get comfortable for this explanation, it's crucial if you wish to advance further in your training."

  Oswald complied, sliding down the rough bark of the oak until he was seated comfortably against its trunk. Selene mirrored his movement as she settled onto the soft grass opposite him.

  "Tell me, do you know where mana cores come from?"

  "I just know everyone's born with one. 'Sides that, I ain't too sure."

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  Selene nodded. "That's correct, at least in part. But mana cores have a deeper origin. They are tied to the Veil, the source and the end of all life."

  Oswald scratched his head thoughtfully. "Y'know... think I heard somethin' about that once, from some drunk priest babblin' nonsense in a tavern." He paused, a smirk spreading across his lips. "Wait, scratch that, pretty sure he was an ex-priest."

  "And did this... former priest say anything specific?"

  "Uh, well... I don't exactly remember all the details. Just somethin' about the Veil bein' some kinda place outside our world. A realm beyond realms, y'know?"

  "The Veil is far more than merely another world. It is the gathering place of all souls, including those awaiting their turn to be born, and those who have already departed this life."

  "So, is the Veil kinda like a gateway between Earth and Heaven?"

  "You can think of it that way, yes. Though some priests would certainly call acknowledging the Veil's existence heretical, but that's neither here nor there."

  "But what's this whole Veil stuff gotta do with mana cores and my Animus?"

  "Souls are born within the Veil itself. Each newborn soul is created complete with its mana core which functions to guide them from the Veil into our world. When someone dies in our world, their mana core will also serve to guide them through the veil, to their final resting place, wherever that may be."

  Oswald tried to wrap his mind around Selene's words. His brow furrowed, and he finally let out a breath of confusion. "I get what you're sayin', but... what's all this got to do with my Animus? And speakin' of, I've still got a lot of questions about that, like why is there a demon livin' inside it in the first place?"

  Selene raised an eyebrow, correcting him firmly but gently. "Animus Spirit, Oswald. 'Demon' is a misleading term for entities residing within an Animus."

  "Well, my de— Animus Spirit just straight-up told me she was a demon, so..."

  "Yes, because they hardly concern themselves with human classifications. However, whilst you're under my guidance, I expect you to use the proper terms."

  She ain't lettin' that one slide, huh? Oswald sighed inwardly but offered a reluctant nod.

  "Regardless, there is much about the Veil and the Animus I intend to share with you. But to prevent overwhelming you, allow me to summarise."

  "Fair enough. Maybe start by tellin' me how exactly the Animus ties into the mana core."

  "The Animus is not a natural phenomenon. It is artificial, created as an extension of the mana core itself. Its purpose is to grant the host not only access to their personal mana reserves, but also direct power drawn from the Veil."

  Shock surged through Oswald's chest, making him sit up sharply. Artificial? "You're sayin' someone just... made eyes like ours? Just crafted 'em outta nowhere?"

  Selene's expression grew distant, thoughtful. "Precisely. The Animus was forged a very long time ago, during a period when humanity stood upon the brink of extinction."

  "Wait, seriously? Tell me more."

  "In due time, Oswald. For now, to answer your final question clearly: the Animus functions by binding an Animus Spirit within, complete with all the power and dangers that entails."

  Oswald let out a low whistle, disbelief and admiration mixing in his expression. "Whoever made the first Animus must've been crazy strong."

  Selene nodded solemnly. "In fact, the Animus was conceived through the vision of an extraordinary soul, one who made unfathomable sacrifices to safeguard humanity’s future. It is solely because of him that mankind endures as the world’s dominant force to this day."

  "Damn… how d'you even know all this stuff, anyway?"

  "Let us simply say that I had very capable teachers, and leave it at that."

  Figures, Oswald thought with a quiet sigh. "Well, I hope you'll actually fill me in properly one of these days."

  "I shall," Selene assured him, rising gracefully. "But right now, we have training to resume. You still must master the basics of mana control."

  "Fair enough, what's next?" Oswald said, straightening and stretching his shoulders.

  "Now that you've successfully channeled your mana core, it is time you learned how to sense the mana of others. All humans have mana cores, and certain monsters have them too, so being able to sense mana will be very important for you."

  "Got it. It does sound pretty important to know."

  "Start by trying to sense mine. It'll serve as good practice."

  Oswald hesitated, glancing warily at Selene. He knew enough by now to trust her instructions, but the idea of peering into another person's core felt strangely intrusive. Still, ain’t no point hesitatin' now. Might as well give it a shot.

  "How exactly do I do that?"

  "Close your eyes again, reach out mentally, just as you did to find your own mana core. Instead of focusing inward, extend your senses toward me. Feel the space between us, then search gently. Eventually, you'll sense my presence."

  "Got it."

  Oswald drew in a slow, steady breath as his eyelids drifted shut. He focused inward, letting his attention settle on the steady glow of his mana core first. And as he centered himself, he followed the thread of that power outward.

  He reached beyond himself, stretching his awareness toward Selene. At first, the world came to him in fragments. But then, something else stirred at the edge of his perception.

  A chill seeped into him, subtle at first, like the ghost of a breeze tracing along his spine. His senses sharpened, and suddenly, he felt it: a presence beyond his own. It was foreign yet unmistakably tied to Selene. In his mind’s eye, he caught the shape of it, an orb, similar to his own mana core. That’s gotta be Selene's mana core.

  [You have gained a new Tier 1 skill: Mana Sense]

  Oswald barely registered the message as he focused on the core before him. His own mana blazed bright and fierce, a near-overwhelming inferno within his body, yet Selene’s was something else entirely.

  Even before he fully grasped it, he could tell that it was strong. No, more than that. It was potent, much denser than his own core. Compared to hers, his mana felt wild and untamed, like a raging firestorm. But Selene was controlled, contained within something vast and unfathomable.

  Then, a sudden, unnatural cold wrapped around his senses, slithering into his bones. A creeping sense of dread gripped his chest as Oswald instinctively pulled back, but it was something that was easier said than done.

  Swallowing hard, Oswald felt himself being pulled deeper as the weight of Selene's mana pressed down on him. The further he reached, the darker it became, coiling like tendrils around his thoughts. His pulse pounded in his ears. What's happening?

  As he brushed closer to it, an overwhelming wave of fear crashed into him. His heartbeat thundered frantically in his ears, and his breathing grew shallow and ragged.

  Oswald recoiled instinctively, but it was already too late. He had found Selene's mana core, and it stared back at him: malevolent, hungry, and utterly terrifying.

  As seconds passed, it increasingly radiated pure menace, a dark storm swirling violently beneath a deceptively calm exterior. It felt predatory, monstrous, as though her core was alive with a visceral desire to consume him.

  Oswald shivered violently, chills racing uncontrollably down his limbs as he felt an unshakable certainty that whatever this thing was, it wanted him dead. Panic rose in his chest, clawing painfully at his throat.

  He struggled to pull away, but the suffocating terror held him, gripping his soul like iron shackles. Every instinct screamed at him to run, yet he couldn’t move.

  But with great effort, Osswald eventually managed to force his eyes open, his heart nearly bursting from his chest as he frantically scrambled backward. Shit, thought I was gonna die.

  Selene regarded him in quiet surprise. "Oswald? What's wrong?"

  Oswald stared at her, his body trembling uncontrollably. "What… what was all that? What… who the fuck are you really?"

  For a moment, silence lingered between them, heavy with tension. Then Selene’s eyes twinkled mysteriously, and a small chuckle escaped her lips, unsettlingly calm despite his terror. "I had anticipated that something like this would occur eventually."